Rubber cushion and insulating strip for refrigerator doors



RUBBER CUSHION AND INSULATING STRIP FOR REFRIGERATOR DOORS Nov; 22,1932.F. c. PALENSKE Filed Aug. 10/, 1951 Patented Nov. 22, 1932 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE I, FREDERICK C. PALENSKE, OF ST. J'OSEIH, MICHIGANApplication filed August 10. 1981. Serial No. 556,055.

This invention relates to rubber stripping for doors of refrigerators oriceboxes or similar structures requiring tight joints and insulationbetween the edges of the doors and the body of the structur Generallystated, the object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedconstruction and arrangement whereby a rubber stripping is providedhaving means for forming a double seal, so to speak, having two edgeportions spaced apart in position to engage one member of the structure,when the door is closed, providin a dead air space between them, wherebye ective insulation and an air-tight joint are rovided-between the doorand the body of t e structure.

It is also 'an object to provide certain details and features ofconstruction tending to increase the general efli ciency and thedesirability of a rubber stripping of this particular character.

.To these and other useful ends, the invention consists in mattershereinafter set forth and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawing,in which- 4 Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a refrigerator provided withrubber stripping between the door and the body of the structure, em-

bodying the principles of the invention. 0 Fig. 2 is an enlargedhorizontal detail section on line 22 in Fig. 1 of the drawing, showingthe door in closed or. substantially closed position.

Fig. 3 is a similar view, showing the door structure open.

Fig. 4 is a perspective of a section of the rubber strippingconstituting the invention.

As thus illustrated, the invention comprises a rubber strip having abase portion 1 0 provided at one edge thereof with a flange 2, saidbaseand flange being secured to the door 3 in any suitable or desiredmanner. The base 1 is provided on the face thereof with curved ribs 4which are spaced apart and which are preferably provided with sharpedges, as shown. The portions 1 and 2 are at an angle to each other,preferably forming an obtuse angle, whereby the flange 2 will extendbetween the meeting edges of the door and the doorway, as shown, theseedges being beveled, preferably, whereby a tight joint is formed.

When the door 3 is closed, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, the ribbedportions 4 are bent or distorted as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, bycontact thereof with the body 5 of the refrlgerator structure. Thisprovides a double seal, so'to speak, as each rib 4 provides a tightjoint, and in addition there is e a dead air space 6 formed between thetwo ribs. In this way insulation is provided, in the joint between thedoor and the body of the structure, and a double air-tight seal is alsoprovided, whereby there can be no interchange of relatively cold andwarm air inside and outside of the refrigerator. In other words, therecan be no leakage around the edges of the door, tending to impair theefiiciency of the refrigerator.

It will be understood, of course, that the shape of the base of therubber stripping ma be of any suitable form or character, depen ing uponthe shape of the structure or mem-. ber to which it is to be secured.But, in any event, and regardless of the shapev of the base 5 orattaching portions, the stripping will have the plurality of spaced ribson the face thereof, each rib forming an air-tight seal or joint alongits edge, and the ribs together forming a dead air space between them,inthe manner shown and described.

It will be understood'that tlie rubber stri ping may be fastened toeither the door or t e body of the structure, depending upon thecharacter thereof, without departing from the spirit of the invention.It will alsobe seen that in the form shown one of the ribs 4 is at theedge of the base 1, while the other rib is spaced a distance therefrom.But the two ribs are curved on their outer sides, whereby the two ribsnormally incline toward each other, and whereby the two ribs are bent ordistorted toward each other when the door or closure is in closedposition. Two ribs are shown and described, but it is obvious that aplurality of ribs may be employed, involving the use of more than tworibs, without departing from the spirit of the invention. But, in anyevent, the formation is such that dead air space is formed between theribs when the door or closure is in closed position, with the flange 2forming an outer tight joint, and with said ribs forming an inner tightjoint.

5 What I claim as my invention is:

1. Rubber stripping for refrigerator doors, or other closures,comprising a base for attachment to a relatively movable member of thestructure, formed with a portion to extend between the meeting edges ofthe door and doorway, said base having another portion disposed at anangle to said first mentioned portion, and a plurality of ribs on theface thereof, said ribs spaced apart to provide air space between them,and said ribs eing adapted to engage another relatively movable memberof the structure, when the door or closure is moved into closedposition, each rib providing an air-tight joint or seal,

and the ribs also providing dead air space between them when the door orclosure 1s in closed position, thereby providing an airtight seal andinsulation in the joint between the door or closure and doorway of thebody of the structure.

' 2. A structure as specified in claim 1, said ribs being curved towardeach other, thereby being subject to distortion toward each other whenthe door or closure is in closed position.

3. A structure as specified in claim 1, said ribs being two in number,one rib being at the outer edge of the base, and the other rib beingspaced a distance therefrom, the two ribs being curved on their outersurfaces,

whereby the two ribs normally incline toward each other, and are bent ordistorted toward each other when the door or closure is in closedposition.

Specification signed this 3rd day of Au- .4 gust, 1931.

FREDERICK C. PALENSKE.

